Belize Languages: Difference between revisions

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==Description==
==Description==
The major languages spoken in Belize include '''English''', [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language '''Spanish'''] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belizean_Creole '''Kriol or Belizean Creole'''] and all three are spoken by more than 40% of the population according to the 2010 census. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayan_languages '''Mayan languages'''] are also spoken in certain areas, as well as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language '''German''']. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Belize," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Belize, accessed 15 May 2023.</ref>
The major languages spoken in Belize include '''English''', [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language '''Spanish'''] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belizean_Creole '''Kriol or Belizean Creole'''] and all three are spoken by more than 40% of the population according to the 2010 census. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayan_languages '''Mayan languages'''] are also spoken in certain areas, as well as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language '''German''']. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Belize," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Belize, accessed 15 May 2023.</ref>
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*[https://www.lexilogos.com/english/spanish_dictionary.htm Spanish dictionary (Lexilogos)]
*[https://www.lexilogos.com/english/spanish_dictionary.htm Spanish dictionary (Lexilogos)]
*[https://glosbe.com/en/es English to Spanish Dictionary (Glosbe)]
*[https://glosbe.com/en/es English to Spanish Dictionary (Glosbe)]
*[https://script.byu.edu/Pages/the-spanish-documents-pages/the-spanish-documents(english) The Spanish Script Tutorial (byu.ed)]
*[https://script.byu.edu/spanish-handwriting/introduction The Spanish Script Tutorial (byu.ed)]


'''Kriol or Belizean Creole'''
'''Kriol or Belizean Creole'''

Latest revision as of 20:15, 11 August 2025

Belize Wiki Topics
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Record Types
Belize Background
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Local Research Resources

Description[edit | edit source]

The major languages spoken in Belize include English, Spanish and Kriol or Belizean Creole and all three are spoken by more than 40% of the population according to the 2010 census. Mayan languages are also spoken in certain areas, as well as German. [1]

English is the official language of Belize, a former British colony. It is the dominant language of public education, government and most media outlets. The majority of Belizeans, regardless of ethnicity, speak an English-based creole called Kriol or Belizean Creole during most informal, social and interethnic dialogue. [2]

Languages spoken in Belize (2010) [3]
Language Speakers Percentage
English 183,903 62.9%
Spanish 165,296 56.6%
Belizean Creole 130,467 44.6%
Q'eqchi' Maya 17,581 6.0%
Mopan Maya 10,649 3.6%
German 9,364 3.2%
Garifuna 8,442 2.9%
Other languages 7,847 2.7%
N.A. 1,537 0.5%
Total 292,263 100%

Word List(s)[edit | edit source]

Spanish

Kriol or Belizean Creole

Q'eqchi' Maya

Alphabet and Pronunciation[edit | edit source]

Spanish

Kriol or Belizean Creole

Q'eqchi' Maya

Language Aids and Dictionaries[edit | edit source]

Spanish

Kriol or Belizean Creole

Q'eqchi' Maya

Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

  • Belize (Britannica)
  • Salmon, William Noel and Jennifer Carolina Gómez Menjívar. Tropical Tongues Language Ideologies, Endangerment, and Minority Languages in Belize. North Carolina: The University of North Carolina Press, 2018. Available at: WorldCat.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Belize," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Belize, accessed 15 May 2023.
  2. Wikipedia contributors, "Standard English and Belizean Creole," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Belize#Standard_English_and_Belizean_Creole, accessed 15 May 2023.
  3. Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Belize," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Belize, accessed 15 May 2023.